What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 2nd, 2018

Last week's economic reports included readings from Case-Shiller housing market indices and data released on new and pending home sales. Weekly releases on mortgage rates and first-time unemployment claims along with the Consumer Sentiment Index for June were also posted. Case-Shiller Reports Rapid Home Price Growth in April April home prices ticked downward by one-tenth percent for the National Home Price Index, which reported 6.40 percent growth year-over-year. Case-Shiller's 20-City Home Price Index also dipped by one-tenth percent to 6.60 percent year-over-year. Analysts note that home prices continue to outpace wage growth and inflation, which limits affordability for many prospective…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 25th, 2018

Last week's economic reports included readings from the National Association of Home Builders, Commerce Department reports on housing starts and building permits issued. Sales of pre-owned homes were reported along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. Builder Confidence Slips as Trade Wars Boost Lumber Prices According to the National Association of Home Builders, home builder confidence in current market conditions was down two points to 68 as compared to May's index reading of 70. Analysts said that rising lumber prices impacted builder sentiment and have replaced labor costs as builders' primary expense. Increased building costs were…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 4th, 2018

Last week's economic reports included readings on Case-Shiller home prices, pending home sales and construction spending. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were released, along with monthly labor-related reports on job creation and the national unemployment rate. Case-Shiller: Home Prices Maintain Rapid Growth S&P Case-Shiller home price indices for March showed home prices continued to grow at blazing rates. Seattle, Washington held on to first place with a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 13.00 percent; Las Vegas, Nevada reported 12.40 percent growth in home prices in March. Analysts said Las Vegas markets benefitted from homebuyers relocating from high-priced…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 7th, 2018

Last week's economic releases included readings on inflation, construction spending and private and public- sector payrolls. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also posted. Inflation Meets Fed Goal, Construction Spending Lower March inflation reached a year-over-year rate of two percent, which is the Federal Reserve's goal for inflation. Inflation rose by 0.20 percent in March to 0.40 percent; analysts expected inflation to rise 0.50 percent. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy sectors, met expectations with 0.20 percent growth. Construction spending was lower in March with a negative reading of -1.70 percent. Analysts predicted an increase…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 23rd, 2018

Last week's economic reports included readings on builder confidence, housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. NAHB: Builder Confidence Drops by One Point The National Association of Home Builders reported that builder confidence dipped by one point in April to an index reading of 69. While any reading over 50 indicates positive builder sentiment, NAHB noted that builder sentiment has decreased for the past four months. During the housing bubble of 2004 and 2005, builder confidence in market conditions averaged 68, but analysts said that the post bubble crash…
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